2023 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by kobasew19

So ridiculous the wild card series is only a best of 3. You're playing 162 regular games, can't the league at least make the first round a best of 5???

we're lucky it's not a one game playoff like before

if you make it a best of 5 now you have to put in travel days (unless you give the higher seed all 5 games at home).. can't have the world series going into november, they'll be playing in snow.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I think I’ve explained my position at this point. I’m entirely skeptical of management this year and while I want the Jays to do well, I don’t want management to be exempt from the underperformance of the team throughout the year. There’s something to be said about a loveable team who puts in effort and makes good decisions. This year save the past week they’ve made bad decisions all year. Say they somehow win it all, imo, they should still examine what went wrong for most of the season. I don’t see the problem with not fully buying into the team given what’s gone on this year.

I don't understand the loveable part.
Here's how I look at the team:
- Really strong rotation. Gausman is a good #1 and also an incredibly thoughtful guy who has been great for the community. Bassit is a gamer and intense. Berrios is a great rebound story. As is Kikuchi. Then you have the crafty vet in Ryu coming back from a major injury. And when he's on, he's a ton of fun to watch pitch because of his arsenal. Manoah a major disappointment but no longer on the team for this year.
- Elite bull pen. a fantastic collection of arms. Incredible.

And then the fielders:
- Varsho: disappointing at the plate but does anyone question the character or effort of this guy?
- Biggio: Has gone from "why don't they DFA this guy" to an important contributing player with versatility.
- KK: Has brought his gold glove to Toronto and has had some clutch moments at the dish. Great addition
- Whit: Total pro. Student of the game. Focused.
- Springer: Perhaps starting a decline but has fun in the game and we saw what an x-factor he can be in some games.
- Kirk/Danny: Danny has become an unexpected important bat. Kirk has had an off year, and I know some challenge his physical shape, but I love the guy. He's not a typical athlete and he's overcome that to be an everyday MLBer
- Bo: one of the most talented players on this team since Alomar.
- Belt: Another pro and great at the plate. Has been missed.

The guys that I will say don't resonate with me are Vladdy (doesnt' take the game seriously in my view) and Chapman (not sure why). And then of course Manoah.

But on the whole, I see a lot of character on this team and don't understand how they aren't likeable.

Seems like you specifically don't like the front office?

I just find it out that part of you hopes they don't do well so management doesn't get let off the hook.

MLB is 162 games. If you can't have fun at the end when your team is in it - what is the point?

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

we're lucky it's not a one game playoff like before

if you make it a best of 5 now you have to put in travel days (unless you give the higher seed all 5 games at home).. can't have the world series going into november, they'll be playing in snow.

I'm just thankful it's a 12 team playoff format and not the 8 team format it used to be.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

I'm just thankful it's a 12 team playoff format and not the 8 team format it used to be.

I'd be OK with smaller playoffs in MLB if you had a single table per league with a balanced schedule.

But given two of the top two, and three of the top four AL teams are in the AL East, I can't see giving 3/4 AL playoff spots to division leaders as being fair.

Even under the current system Minnesota has a worse record with an easier schedule than 1 team that won't get a wild card spot, but at least it's pretty close.

[GirlySports]

The last true pennant race the SF Giants missed the playoffs in 1993 with 103 wins! The wildcard was put in the following year.

[Kidder]

Yeah I was perusing Blue Jays history and was stunned to see they only had to win 2 series to win the WS in ‘92 and ‘93.

Now two playoff series wins just gets us to the ALCS.

Regular season really meant something back then.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Kidder

Yeah I was perusing Blue Jays history and was stunned to see they only had to win 2 series to win the WS in ‘92 and ‘93.

Now two playoff series wins just gets us to the ALCS.

Regular season really meant something back then.

Until 1969 there were only 2 playoff teams, the world series

Even when the NHL had 6 teams forever, 4 made the playoffs

https://www.mlb.com/news/best-baseba...son-c291835388

[KelVarnsen]

Belt and Jackson back. Horwitz and Nate sent down.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...er-vs-yankees/

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Better than 1 game. WC series of 3 games makes sense. Unless you’re saying they should drop some reg season games and allocate those days to more playoff games.

When it was a 1 game series, and some teams play for a generation to try and get into the postseason, and then don't get a home game.

Even now, a team can make the postseason, but it only guaranteed one home game.

What if you were a long term die hard fan, but that one game was on a day you couldn't go?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

When it was a 1 game series, and some teams play for a generation to try and get into the postseason, and then don't get a home game.

Even now, a team can make the postseason, but it only guaranteed one home game.

What if you were a long term die hard fan, but that one game was on a day you couldn't go?

Actually, the wild card series is played entirely (all 3 games) at the stadium of the higher seed. So the Jays won't be hosting a game unless they win the wild card round.

[EN FUEGO]

Gausman starting 4 straight batters with 4 straight ball ones.....2 walks.

[flamingred89]

Hmm. Gausman not looking very sharp early. Walked two and some hard contact. Wells with an XBA of .890 and Lemahieu with .730. Both for outs. Baseball is weird. Gausman is lucky to get out of that.

[KelVarnsen]

Robot umps now. Fire these umps into the sun

[Machiavelli]

What a horrible call geez

[Party Elephant]

That's an oof for strike 3 there.

[Party Elephant]

Ump needs to go get some eyes jesus

[flamingred89]

With each passing AB I'm really starting to wonder what Chapman's next contract is going to be. He was trending to be the next $250 million dollar guy after April. Now I think he might be a show me deal. His bat has been putrid. 4 of the 6 months this season he's had an OPS less than .600. He's pretty much a defensive specialist at this point. Like Andrelton Simmons. Eats up a ton of WAR due to defensive metrics but can't hit the baseball.

[transplant99]

Jays hitters need to start taking some pitches and get Kings pitch count up. Stay close through 6 and get into that bullpen seems like the recipe against them.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

They're listening to you tranny.............

[flamingred89]

King all of a sudden not throwing strikes when he's not getting calls 6" off the plate.